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Bring Back The Whirl-O

Thursday, January 22, 2015

I’m not sure if the above picture looks familiar to anyone, but you may recognize it because it is a classic tin toy that teaches kids about magnets, light and color, and the wheel and axle, called the Whirl-O. Regal Games, a small business that makes retro games, is trying to bring the Whirl-O back to the market and into your homes through a new Kickstarter campaign.

Simon was very excited to try out this toy for us and he was able to get the hang of spinning the smaller disc around the bigger one pretty quickly.

What I did not realize and what Simon pointed out, is that the smaller disc is actually a top! (He called it a dreidel!) The Whirl-O® is a magnetic tin top launcher. To get started, roll the top along the two parallel disks also known as the rails. This is called the “Simple Spin” or “Takin’ it for a Whirl”. The new design also features a color morphing feature. I pointed this out to Gabbie, who just laughed at me, but it is pretty cool that our blue and purple Whirl-O looks purple while it spins!

The Simple Spin is just the beginning. Once you have mastered the Simple Spin, it’s time to launch your top. Get it going fast and smooth, and then use the hubcap to give it a good thump on a table. With some practice, you can time it so you’ll know where the top will land. The faster your Simple Spin, and the better you stick the landing, the longer the top will stay spinning. We had a fun time trying to get the top to spin out of the rails. I am sure that Zachary could do it, but he didn’t want me to take his picture, so he stopped trying! Kids – and even some of us adults – will be addicted to the Whirl-O® in no time!

The Whirl-O® is both entertaining and educational, and is a great way for kids to explore concepts like magnets, the wheel and axle, and the role our eyes play in our perception of light. Regal Games has even provided a set of free lesson plans written for elementary students. Download three free lesson plans here. Share them with your kids’ teachers for bonus points!

We can all help to bring back the Whirl-O®! The Kickstarter campaign to bring back the Whirl-O® is running now through February 11. What is very cool is that if you pledge $8 or more, you will receive your own Whirl-O! Learn more and make your donation here.

Hi there!

As a mom to 3, I try to teach my kids that every day can be an adventure! I always tell them that things can be fun if they make them fun. This is where I document it all. I love travel, photography, reading, writing, & spending time with my family!